The International Automobile Federation is reacting to the controversial season finale of Formula 1 2021. President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announces extensive changes – and a stimulus figure has to go.
The 2022 Formula 1 season starts in just under a month – and there is already a bang in the preparation: Race Director Michael Masi has to go. This was announced by the President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Mohammed Ben Sulayem, in a statement on Thursday.
“Michael Masi, who spent three years in the very challenging role of Formula 1 Racing Director succeeding Charlie Whiting, will be offered a new position at Fia,” said Ben Sulayem. Masi has not only been a stimulus figure in Formula 1 since the controversial 2021 season finale, antagonizing drivers and teams throughout the season with inconsistent decisions and questionable management.
“No, Michael, no no”
The negative highlight was the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi on December 12, 2021, in which both Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen were still fighting for the world title. In the turbulent final phase, the Dutchman was able to overtake the defending champion and thus secured his first world championship – but the scene was only made possible by Masi’s decisions. At the time, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff raged over the radio: “No, Michael, no no, Michael, that was so wrong!”
Mercedes lodged a protest, complaining about the unusual – and from the Silver Arrows’ point of view, incorrect procedure during the last safety car phase. The main point was that the safety car should have stayed outside longer – then the race would have ended behind Bernd Mayländer’s car and Hamilton would have become world champion. Because overtaking is then no longer allowed. The protests were ultimately crushed.
Video proof like in football
But now the reaction of the Fia – and with it the admission that Masi was apparently overwhelmed recently. His successor has also been decided: Ben Sulayem explained that the new “race management” will be in action as early as next week’s test drives on the Grand Prix circuit near Barcelona. Accordingly, the former DTM race manager Niels Wittich and the former rally race director Eduardo Freitas will alternate in the future. They are permanently supported by Herbie Blash as a so-called Senior Advisor.
In addition, Ben Sulayem announced further significant changes: A “Virtual Race Control Room” is to be introduced, a “virtual race management” that is intended to support the race directors in a similar way to video evidence in football. In addition, the team radio will no longer be heard in the TV broadcasts in the future, “to protect the race director from pressure and to give him the opportunity to make his decisions in peace.”